The Contract (The Contract 1)

“Richard.”

I startled, looking at Graham.

“We’re here.”

I had been so deep in thought I hadn’t realized where we were headed. He had brought us to his house. I frowned, looking at him.

“We’ll have complete privacy. Laura is home, but she won’t interfere.”

I swallowed. “She deserves to hear this, too.”

“Maybe in a while. We’ll talk first.”

I pushed open the car door, too weary to argue. “Okay.”RICHARD

I STARED OUT THE WINDOW overlooking the vast property. Memories of bringing Katharine here the first day flitted through my head. How nervous and anxious we both had been. How well she played her part. My gaze swept over to the deck. Remembering our wedding dinner, my chest became tight. She had looked so pretty, felt so right in my arms when we danced. The day, which should have been nothing but another piece of my plan, had been a joyful one.

Had I loved her then?

“Richard.”

I turned to face Graham. He held out a steaming cup of coffee. “I thought you could use this.”

I took the mug with a silent nod and turned back to the window. My thoughts were jumbled and confused. I had no idea how to start this conversation, but I knew I had to have it. I needed to wipe the slate clean, then figure out my next move.

Taking in a deep lungful of air, I turned back to Graham. He was leaning on his desk, feet crossed, sipping his coffee. He was his normal, calm self, yet the look on his face was intense.

“I don’t know where to start,” I admitted.

“The beginning is usually the best.”

I wasn’t certain what the beginning was in this instance. The real reason I left Anderson Inc.? The arrangement I made with Katharine? The hundreds of lies and deceptions that followed?

“Why did Katy leave you, Richard?”

I shrugged, feeling helpless. “I don’t know. Maybe because she didn’t know how I really felt about her?”

“Which is how, exactly?”

“I love her.”

“Your wife didn’t know you loved her?”

“No.”

“I think you’ve found your beginning.”

I nodded grimly, knowing he was correct.

“I lied to you.”

“Which part?”

I sat down, putting my coffee mug on the table. If I held it, I would either smash it in between my tightly clenched fists or throw the whole thing, contents and all, at the wall. Neither boded well for a civilized conversation—not that this was going to be.

“All of it. It was all a lie.”

Graham sat across from me, crossing his legs. He ran his fingers down the crease of his trousers, then looked up.

“You lied to me to get the job at The Gavin Group?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me why.”

“I was passed up for partner, and I wanted to piss David off. I wanted out, but I wanted to stay here, in Victoria. I like it here. I heard about the opening at Gavin and I wanted in.”

Aside from the small tilt of his chin, he said nothing.

“I knew you would never hire me. I had heard of the tight-knit way you ran your business. My reputation was less than stellar, on a personal level.” I barked a laugh. “It didn’t matter what I could bring to the table, business-wise, because my lifestyle and personality would stop you from even considering me.”

“That’s true.”

“It occurred to me, if you thought I wasn’t that person, maybe I would have a shot.”

“And you came up with this plan.”

“Yes.”

“How did Katy come into this scheme of yours?”

“Not willingly. With the rules at Anderson, I knew she was the most obvious choice. Aside from the fact she was different from any other woman I had dated, that she was my assistant was the perfect set up.” I shrugged my shoulders in resignation. “I didn’t even like her. She wasn’t crazy about me, either.”

“You both played it well.”

“We had to. It was important to both of us.” I leaned forward, earnest. “She did this for one reason, and one reason alone, Graham.”

“Penny.”

“Yes. I paid her to pretend to be my fiancée. I practically coerced her into marrying me to continue the charade. She hated the lying and the deception.” I rubbed the back of my neck, my fingers digging into my skin hard. “She was, is, so fond of all of you that it became too much for her, I think. She couldn’t do it anymore.”

“How much of this deception was Brian Maxwell privy to?”

I had already decided not to let anyone else suffer because of me. I refused to jeopardize either Brian or Amy. “None. I told him the same story I told you. If he suspected anything, he kept it to himself. I think he truly thought I had changed, or he wouldn’t have been part of this. Amy,” I added, “knew nothing. Nothing.”

He regarded me for a moment, tapping his chin. “I’m not sure he was as innocent as you say. However, I’m going to let it pass. Amy is a trusted employee, so I do believe she knew nothing.”